20 January 2022
Jeremiah Harrison
Sports Writer
Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) looks forward to shape and revive combat sports in Bulawayo.
A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a participant is victorious through scoring more points than the opponent, disabling the opponent (knockout, KO), or attacking the opponent in a specific or designated technique.
Such sports include boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts.
These sporting activities have been viewed as dangerous by the community but the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) are working to debunk such mysteries.
The Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) has therefore rejected these views as a result the board is working on implementing measures to revive combat sports in Bulawayo.
For the past three years sporting activities have been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic making it hard for the sportsmen to train properly and partake in tournaments.
The board seeks to develop the combat sports from as early as the primary education level.
In a press conference held on Wednesday morning at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo ZNBWCB Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Zimbudzana touched on their plans for the year 2022.
So as to develop combat sports from grassroots level, being one of the major key issues, the board has engaged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for to mainstream the combat sports in its curriculum.
“We want to track the talent, nurture it and make those who are talented reach the podium level through supporting those in sport, we want those in combat sports to get income from their talent” said Lawrence Zimbudzana.
He went on to talk about development of the infrastrusture for combat sports, they are engaging with the local authorities in improving combat sports infrastructure in the city of Bulawayo.
“Its not a single person’s role to make sport a success but its a collaboration work” he added.
The board has tried to use technology to go virtual during these past 3 years when Corona virus was dominant but in Zimbabwe they are facing internet connectivity challenges to go online.
The board emphasized more on collaboration with stakeholders and the media in order to make combat sports a success.
The Board is particularly interested in reviving the sport in the City of Kings because such sportsmen as Ambrose Mlilo, Ringo Master, Thamsanqa Dube once dominated the sports arena when the sport was still dominant.
“Sport is a business, that is why we called stakeholders and the corporate world to collaborate with us in reviving combat sports in Bulawayo as well as nationwide.” Zimbudzana went on.
Seemingly there have been many promises by stakeholders such as the business community to sponsor sports but these promises have not been fulfilled.
In an interview with Zim GBC News at the sidelines of the press conference the ZNBWCB CEO said,
“This was our first meeting for the year and we are going to have more of these meetings. This year we ‘walk the talk’ we fulfill what we have promised.” answered Lawrence Zimbudzana.
The Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board is set to introduce provincial boxing championships this year, those who become provincial champions will compete for the National Championships.
“We have national championships but we don’t know where these people (fighters) are coming from how did they qualify for the National championship, who did you fight, so we want to correct that one” said Lawrence Zimbudzana.
In as much as the board wants to revive the combat sport participation is low.
This reporter interviewed some youths in Bulawayo for their views on participation in combat sports.
Tinashe Maverevedze from Mzilikazi said “The reason why there is less participation is that the combat sports are not popular in western suburbs of the city.”
“Youths need to be educated on combat sports, one advise I will give is ‘Catch them young’ from the primary schools level” added Maverevedze.
Mxolisi Ngwenya a student from Milton High school expressed himself, “Personally I can say I am scared to partake in the combat sports I prefer other sports.”
Zimbabwe has nurtured talent in boxing for the past years with Charles Manyuchi a solid evidence.
The board believs that with hard work and collaboration with other stakeholders it is possible to create other champions such as Manyuchi.